Does New Kia Cee'd Foreshadow Next Forte?

Ahead of its official launch at the Geneva Motor Show next month, Kia released an image of its Cee'd compact hatchback; its U.S. sibling is the Forte. With rumors of an updated Forte on the horizon, it looks like the new Cee'd could be a preview of what's in store for Kia's American market compact.

The compact Forte hit the U.S. market in 2010 with coupe and sedan body styles; a hatchback joined for model-year 2011. It slots above the subcompact Rio in price and size. The new Cee'd debuting in Geneva is longer and wider than the previous version and features a sportier-looking face than the current Forte. It wears what the automaker calls "the latest interpretation of Kia's tiger-nose grille" and also has a larger Kia badge, more chrome exterior trim and sweeping headlight housing with LED lights. 

Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Kia Forte

Now that the Kia Forte hatchback is out on the market, the nameplate now comes in three body styles — that’s more than most competitors. While the Forte is a good car overall, the onslaught of new and better competition makes the model just merely acceptable in the field, according to Cars.com editor Mike Hanley.

2011 Kia Forte Review

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Kia Forte Five-Door, 2012 Infiniti M56X, 2011 Nissan 370Z Roadster

There’s a little bit of everything in this week’s podcast. Kia has been on a roll lately with its Optima sedan and Sorento SUV, but they’ve got compacts, too, and unlike Hyundai, they have a hatchback version of the Forte compact sedan. Does it make the Forte platform more versatile? And how do editors Joe Wiesenfelder, Kelsey Mays and Mike Hanley feel about the new Infiniti M56X and Nissan 370Z Roadster?

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MotherProof.com Car Seat Check Recap

The 2011 Kia Forte hatchback is capable of fitting five adults comfortably. When it comes to child-safety seats, the car can only fit two, as MotherProof.com found out in its Car Seat Check. Installing the two car seats in the Forte is somewhat of a chore, too. Continue reading about the Kia Forte and the other models MotherProof.com tested in its Car Seat Check series, with the links below:

2011 Mazda RX-8: Car Seat Check 
2011 Kia Forte Hatchback: Car Seat Check 
2012 Nissan GT-R: Car Seat Check

2011 Kia Forte Video

The redesigned Kia Forte is only in its second model year, but with so many new entries, the model has gotten lost under a pile of strong competition. That’s a shame, says Cars.com editor Mike Hanley, because the Forte is a fairly proficient player in the compact-car segment.

Cars.com Shootout: The Best Car for Under $20,000/Over 35 MPG

Drivers are still smarting from roller coaster gas prices. Luckily, automakers have been rolling out impressive new compact cars that deliver the high gas mileage you might expect from something smaller.

The 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Honda Civic, 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 2011 Kia Forte and 2011 Chevy Cruze were put through a series of tests by Cars.com and USA Today experts as well as a real-world family to see which one reigned supreme.

Cars.com: Under 20/Over 35 Shootout

MotherProof.com Car Seat Check Recap

Honda’s redesigned Civic is one of the most popular cars on the market. With a larger backseat that offers more legroom, how does the 2012 model fare when carrying around child-safety seats? The tether and Latch anchors are easy to find and use, and the Civic’s flat rear seats make it easy to install a pair of car seats. For more info on the Civic and the other models we’ve tested, head to MotherProof.com.

2011 Kia Forte Sedan: Car Seat Check 
2012 Honda Civic Sedan: Car Seat Check

Incentives Diet: Buy This, Not That

New-car incentives are hard to come by these days. Gone are the big lumps of cash back teamed to low financing offers. Even low financing deals are harder to come by as new models and fuel-efficient cars are in high demand.

Are there deals to be had out there? Yes, but it takes more digging and creative thinking.

We’ve taken three pairs of cars that highlight this issue. One is a relative bargain with its pure sticker price versus the other while still packing similar features. All are Cars.com Best Bets except the 2012 Ford Focus, which is too new to be considered for the nod.

All the trim levels we picked for these comparisons needed to include an automatic transmission; air conditioning; power locks, windows and side mirrors; keyless entry; cruise control; Bluetooth connectivity; a USB port; and electronic stability control. MSRP prices include destination charges.

Do the bargain choices always win out? Or do high-demand models cost more no matter the sticker price?

2011 Kia Forte EX vs. 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan
The Forte debuted a few years ago and was a very well-rounded contender in the compact class. You get a lot for your money, and it was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Focus is all new — joining tougher competition like the Chevy Cruze and Hyundai Elantra — and rides and handles better than the Forte, but it’s also more expensive similarly equipped.

The Focus is in hot demand. In April, it was the second-fastest-selling car on our Movers & Losers list, taking just seven days to sell after hitting a dealer lot. The Forte sold at a respectable 39-day rate, well below the average of 48 days. Still, that worn luster gives the Forte the edge in terms of financing that will save buyers an additional $1,262.44 in addition to the lower sticker price. The Focus hatchback is pictured above, not the sedan. All pricing and equipment mentioned is for the Focus SE sedan.

Kia Pushes Incentives on Old Models

Kia seems to be playing second fiddle in the U.S. to its Korean cousin, Hyundai, which sells nearly 50% more vehicles in America than Kia, and the automaker is growing more quickly. So it’s not surprising to see Kia offer plenty of incentives compared with Hyundai’s offers, which we detailed Tuesday.

Kia is offering either big cash or low financing deals across its entire lineup. New vehicles — like the Forte and the Soul, two relatively affordable compacts we’ve praised — see a combination of both. There’s $1,000 cash back on the 2010 Forte, which hasn’t been a sales success. The 2010 Sedona has $3,000 cash back, the largest discount for any minivan right now. Even the revised 2011 Sedona gets up to $2,500 cash back.

Kia Forte Hybrid Concept Revealed at SEMA

Kia unveiled a slew of customized vehicles today at the SEMA show in Las Vegas and one of them was a unique Forte Hybrid Concept. The hybrid powertrain includes a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that operates on propane and is coupled to an electric hybrid system, which uses lithium-polymer batteries.

Liquid propane can be used to power internal combustion engines just like gasoline, but LPG spews fewer toxins and smog-forming pollutants into the air, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. It’s also less expensive than gasoline.